The secondary-ticket market for sporting and entertainment events, which includes tickets bought and sold by professional brokers, speculators and season-ticket holders, is a $10-billion-a-year industry, with online sales accounting for one-third of transactions and growing 15 to 20 percent a year, according to StubHub.com.
BBB | Greater Maryland offers the following tips when considering purchasing this week’s Raven play off tickets:
- Purchase tickets directly from the team or the venue if possible. Next option to consider is purchasing through a legitimate travel agency in the community who has package deals – including a guarantee/refund policy. And finally, consider buying from a legitimate ticket exchange. Two Maryland companies, downtowntickets.com and greatseats.com have great ratings ith bbb.org and you will note, their BBB Accredited Business seals are activated confirming the legitimacy AND trustworthiness of the business and their customer service.
- If you buy tickets through an online auction, choose a seller with a long, continuous, history of satisfied customers. Scammers can hijack old accounts, so make sure they have recently bought or sold other items. Try to contact any ticket seller and ask for a response – confirming the email doesn’t bounce and they are available for communication and your questions.
- When buying from an individual through an online exchange don’t be lured away from the Web site by the seller. Even if you met the seller on the exchange Web site, the company may not guarantee any lost money if a transaction occurs outside their domain. And verify the history of the tickets if possible by requesting a receipt or order description for how/when the tickets were originally purchased.
- Never pay with a cashier’s check or wire money to the seller; you’ll have no way to get your money back if the tickets never arrive. Pay with a credit card or through PayPal, which offer some amount of protection and potential reimbursement.
- Many sellers will include pictures of the tickets with their posts on auction sites or bulletin boards. Scrutinize the tickets closely for any inaccuracies or alterations, and cross-check the seat assignment with the map on the venue’s Web site before you buy.
Today’s tickets are at a premium – high demand and limited supply. Don’t rush to buy tickets without doing your homework by checking with bbb.org to verify the vendor or following tips from your online auction provider.